Chapter 34: Kakashi, Yamato, and Yukimi

Menma possessed an almost obsessive pursuit of researching the Kekkei Genkai of various shinobi clans.

During his time in the "Infinite Tsukuyomi World," he also enjoyed collecting various Kekkei Genkai from the shinobi world to study their genes, attempting to crack the secrets of the Otsutsuki clan.

It is well known that in the current shinobi world, any clan possessing special abilities can trace their ancestry back to the Sage of the Six Paths.

For instance, the Sharingan of the famous Uchiha clan, the Byakugan of the Hyuga clan, and the Shikotsumyaku of the Kaguya clan—these Kekkei Genkai were all weakened versions of Kaguya Otsutsuki's various abilities.

However, compared to the sociopathic human experimentation conducted by Orochimaru and other shinobi scientists, Menma maintained a moral baseline even in the "Infinite Tsukuyomi" world, refraining from performing live human experiments.

On one hand, he could not accept the false world of the "Infinite Tsukuyomi"; on the other, he did not want to let his bottom line be breached and descend into madness.

This struggle continued until Menma launched the Fourth Shinobi World War against the Five Great Shinobi Nations.

After raiding Orochimaru and looting several of his secret bases, Menma found research materials regarding the Iburi clan within Orochimaru's experimental logs.

This caused Menma to recall this minor shinobi clan, which had only appeared for three episodes in the original anime before being wiped out.

This smoke-transformation ability was a Kekkei Genkai Menma had never encountered in the "Infinite Tsukuyomi World," which piqued his desire to collect it.

It wasn't a malicious collection; he simply wanted this clan to serve him, providing cell tissue and blood for his research into the "smoke transformation" Kekkei Genkai.

"Lord Shura, these are the historical records of our Iburi clan; they are all here." Deep within a stone chamber in the underground space, Guta was introducing the clan's treasures to Menma.

Although Guta verbally expressed disbelief that Orochimaru had broken his promise, he tacitly accepted a temporary cooperation with Menma while waiting for Orochimaru's arrival.

Therefore, when Menma suggested he wanted to see the history of the Iburi clan, Guta did not obstruct him but instead provided it directly.

Looking at the sparse historical scrolls in the stone chamber, Menma realized that the Iburi clan did not place much importance on history or heritage; thus, the collection of scrolls was minimal, with most knowledge being passed down orally.

Or rather, for the Iburi clan, even survival was a struggle. With no guarantee of food, medicine, or daily necessities, the importance of these historical scrolls was greatly diminished.

This was evident from the generally monotonous, coarse, and tattered clothing worn by the Iburi people.

Even Guta, as the clan leader, did not possess a suitable weapon; he was using a wood-cutting knife during his fight with Kakashi.

In the dim stone chamber, Menma's fingertips brushed over the dust-covered scrolls.

"I am not a man who likes to owe others anything." Menma then took out a scroll and tossed it to Guta behind him.

"This sealing scroll contains enough food to feed one hundred people for a week."

Hearing it was food, Guta caught the scroll with both hands and said joyfully, "Thank you."

Menma said nothing, merely picking up a dusty scroll and opening it, immersing himself in the ocean of the Iburi clan's history.

To Menma, this was just a portable supply scroll containing easy-to-preserve food; the taste was naturally unremarkable, as its primary purpose was for emergencies.

But for the Iburi clan, if used sparingly, this food could provide sustenance for their entire clan for one or two months.

As Guta took the scroll back to his clansmen, he happened to see Yamato engaged in combat with a silver-haired ninja wearing a mask, while surrounding clansmen were also attempting to launch attacks.

"Are they Konoha pursuers?" Guta immediately transformed into a cloud of smoke and rushed forward.

In the *Kakashi Anbu Arc*, Guta's taijutsu combined with his smoke transformation showed combat prowess comparable to the Anbu ninja Kakashi. In the end, Kakashi was only able to win because he lured Guta out of the cave and into a forest where a strong wind dispersed the smoke, ultimately leading to Guta's death.

Thus, after transforming into smoke to join the battle, Guta immediately used the "Smokescreen Technique," entering Kakashi's body through his nasal passages.

Kakashi, who had been fighting intensely with Yamato using his family's swordsmanship and a kunai, suddenly felt his internal organs being scorched by smoke, and even smoke flashed through his eyes.

"Aaaah!" Kakashi painfully dropped his weapon, clutching his head, sometimes scratching his scalp and sometimes clutching his lungs, screaming in agony.

"Wait!" Seeing this, Yamato quickly performed the Wood Style: Wood Locking Wall to encase Kakashi, forcing Guta to let him go.

"Why save him?!" After emerging from Kakashi's body, Guta deactivated his smoke form and questioned Yamato.

"He is a Konoha ninja; he cannot die yet." Seeing the situation, Yamato quickly found an excuse: "Perhaps I can interrogate him to obtain information regarding the Konoha pursuers and Orochimaru."

Yamato used Wood Style to manipulate several wooden pillars to bind Kakashi, preparing for interrogation.

Guta frowned in thought and nodded slowly. "Then, I leave him to you. I will go to seek instructions from that Lord."

With that, Guta turned to leave, handing the food storage scroll to a woman responsible for the clan's food collection.

After Guta and the others left, Yamato exhaled and walked toward the bound Kakashi, saying, "I'm sorry, this was the only way I could temporarily save your life."

At this moment, Kakashi's internal organs still held the lingering heat from the smoke; his entire body was in unbearable pain, and sweat poured from his forehead as he looked at Yamato.

Yamato had once been ordered to assassinate the Third Hokage but was defeated by Kakashi. However, Kakashi believed that a ninja capable of using Wood Style was vital to the village, so he spared Yamato and reported his information to the Third Hokage.

And this time, Yamato had saved Kakashi's life.

"Who are they?" Kakashi asked breathlessly. "When he mentioned 'that Lord,' was he referring to Orochimaru?"

Although Kakashi had stumbled upon this tree hollow by accident, it was obvious that the Iburi clan had a deep connection with Orochimaru.

Yamato shook his head. "Orochimaru hasn't arrived yet. It's 'Shura'."

"'Shura' seems to want the Iburi clan's Kekkei Genkai, so he is waiting here for Orochimaru."

"Shura..." Kakashi's Sharingan trembled slightly.

He remembered that solitary, arrogant figure wearing a white, three-eyed fox mask at the Hyuga gate.

Although he had not fought him directly, the fact that "Shura" could single-handedly defeat the two brothers of the Hyuga clan head and cause chaos in the Hidden Cloud Village proved that this person's strength was unfathomable.

Furthermore, how did such a powerhouse know about Orochimaru's defection?

"Tenzo!" Just as Kakashi and Yamato were exchanging information, Yukimi returned.

"She is...?" Kakashi looked at the girl, who appeared to be around their age, and froze for a moment before looking at Yamato.

"Her name is Yukimi. She is the only child of the Iburi clan. The other children... were taken by Orochimaru for experiments," Yamato introduced her to Kakashi.

Although it was their first meeting, a sense of familiarity made their relationship feel like that of old friends meeting after years apart.

"Taken by Orochimaru..." Kakashi didn't need to think to know that those children had most likely died in Orochimaru's laboratory.

Yukimi did not yet know the specific details; she only instinctively worried about the boy who looked so much like Tenzo. "I'll lead you out. If that Lord comes questioning, both of you will be in trouble."

Kakashi's face beneath the mask shifted once more. This kind-hearted girl, who lived deep underground yet maintained a sunny and cheerful personality, reminded him of a lost comrade—

Rin Nohara.